Powertraveller Powermonkey Extreme

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Originally launched in 2011 after five years in development, the powermonkey extreme is the culmination of feedback from real power users in some of the most remote locations on the planet and completely embodies Powertraveller's understanding of customer's power requirements when they are "off-grid".

As of March 2013, the powermonkey extreme has undergone some serious upgrades to further cement the product's reputation as "charger of choice" in the outdoor and adventure travel market.

The powermonkey extreme houses a massive 9000mAh capacity Lithium Polymer battery and offers users real power in a compact, durable shell. The unit is capable of recharging most 5V devices, (including an iPhone/smart phones up to 4 times, a Garmin Edge 800 up to 6 times, standard mobiles up to 8 times and iPad up to 2 times depending on the model), but it is the 2013 model that really pushes the boundaries.

The most important improvement for 2013 is the change to the powermonkey extreme's DC output option. The standard 5V USB socket remains but the DC port has been upgraded to output 12V (previously 5V), meaning that the powermonkey extreme is now capable of charging SLR camera batteries, portable DVD players and much more directly from the unit. This upgrade alone pushes the powermonkey extreme out ahead of its nearest competitors in terms of charging capabilities, whilst the kit remains lightweight and compact enough for even the most space-conscious traveller.

The updated model also includes a female in-car socket so if users only have an in-car charger for their device, they can now recharge it directly from the powermonkey extreme.

The powermonkey extreme is capable of charging iPads and tablets too. iPad 1, iPad 2, iPad 3 and iPad mini can be plugged directly into the extreme's USB socket via customer's Apple-supplied white sync / charge cable and will recharge up to 2 times depending on the model of your iPad. The iPad 4 has slightly different charging requirements and so the 2013 powermonkey extreme includes a gorilla-pad adaptor specifically for this model. The gorilla-pad plugs into the 12V DC socket and is used together with customer's Apple sync / charge cable to charge iPad 4. You can also use the gorilla-pad for the other iPads/tablets or to give yourself another 5V USB socket if required.

The powermonkey extreme is waterproof for 30 minutes up to 1 metre and shock resistant - perfect for the outdoor, marine & adventure enthusiast, as well as military & aid agencies. When used in conjunction with the aquastrap, the powermonkey extreme will be kept watertight whilst it charges your devices.

For 2013, changes to the LCD screen which displays battery capacity level and working status complete the upgrades to the powermonkey extreme. Rather than bars indicating how much power is in the unit, the new powermonkey extreme has a digital read out numbered from 01 (requires charging) to 99 (fully charged). When the unit requires charging, the battery icon in the bottom corner will flash. Whilst the unit is charging, the LCD screen will turn red and then green once charging is complete. During normal operation, the LCD screen will be blue.

Its unique one touch friction swipe ON/OFF control is designed so the friction switch can only be turned on if swiped from left to right, which helps to reduce the risk of it being accidently turning on when not in use. To turn the powermonkey extreme on, swipe the panel from left to right with your thumb. To turn off, swipe with your thumb from right to left. When the 5V device or tablet computer is fully charged, the auto shut-off function means the powermonkey extreme will turn itself off after 2 minutes, so the user does not have to monitor the charge state of the device being charged - thus saving power.

The powermonkey extreme can be recharged in three ways; via the universal mains charger, via the solar panel or via USB. Whilst the unit is recharging, the LCD screen will be red, once fully charged, the screen will turn green. When the unit is in use, the screen will be blue!

The rugged, clam-shell design solar panel offers 3 Watt max output, allowing full recharge of the powermonkey extreme within 18-22 hours in optimum light conditions. The powermonkey extreme also has a solar energy detection feature which activates the incorporated state-of-the-art MPPT (maximum power point tracker) technology, allowing the solar panel to charge the powermonkey unit more efficiently in low light conditions. Users can also simultaneously use the solar panel to charge the powermonkey extreme whilst it is charging their device.

The solar panel can be attached to tents or rucksacks via the included Velcro strap, so is perfect for hiking and is designed to take the knocks and spills of both the power hungry adventurer and the busy traveller. You can even purchase a Y cable (see "other products" at the bottom of the page) which enables users to connect two extreme solar panels to one extreme battery unit, thus allowing for quicker charging of the battery.

The Polysilicon solar panel offers photovoltaic efficiency up to 17% and features a USB output, fully supporting Apple iPhone/iPod, mobile phones and other 5V gadgets such as portable games consoles, handheld GPS systems, etc. The solar panel can fully charge the powermonkey extreme in approx 18-22 hours.

The powermonkey extreme unit weighs 242g and measures 152 x 59.5 x 28mm, whilst the solar panel weighs 214g, measures 171 x 90 mm and is 18mm deep when folded. The unit has a very low static wastage (meaning you can leave it for up to 1 year and it will still hold 75% of its charge) and includes a whole host of safety features to give you total peace of mind.

Product Reviews

Soldier deployed

John clark(FT. Bragg)3/16/2012 2:40 PM

Amazing solar and storage device! I have been using this device for months now in the field and it is an absolute life saver. I charged my iPhone 6 times on the storage device alone and have been able to charge my iPhone and iPad right off the panel directly from the sun. Every soldier should own one, great product!